ZOMG THIS IS OUT? OMG
SO MUCH HYPE?
Oh realised it was only Beta, still... wait what does beta mean o.o
I dont know if this was a serious question, but if so then the stages of video game production based on personal knowledge go like this.
This is an extremely generic timetable and leaves stuff out so bear with me:
1. Initial game theory and planning
2. Pitch for approval and whatnot
3. Blah blah blah make the game
4. Integration and System Testing (basically runs each line of code for correct functions and makes sure the interface, environment, and other modules run in unison without a hitch)
5. Alpha testing (usually internal, a lot of bugs, simply takes the raw data and runs it to correct any mistakes and balance issues)
6. After a lot of internal alpha they offer beta keys for players to test the game and report on issues. Sometimes its top notch players only who know the game mechanics extremely well, usually its just a promotion or lottery that sends them out at random.
7. Beta testing (closed public before market release to fix 99% of problems)
7. Release wooooo!!!!
It seems Blizzard went back and adjusted some of their balance issues which is why the release kept getting pushed off. One of my ex WoW guildmates has family who work for Blizzard and I didnt hear any news of alpha testing problems. Now that beta is out its probably going to be a few months until release (they say October).
I personally cannot wait as SC was a game that my dad had played and then broke the CDs and wiped the old desktop with the install on it so I could never play it. I followed some gameplay and the graphics take my breath away every time. They are making us wait because they want it to be a game that can compete graphically and down the road remain a viable RTS game for many years to come.
Hope I helped!
